News Summary
Reece Potter, a 7-foot-1 center, will transfer from Miami (Ohio) to the University of Kentucky for the upcoming men’s basketball season. He is the first recruited scholarship player from Lexington in over three decades. A standout at Lexington Catholic High School, Potter earned numerous accolades, and his addition to Kentucky marks a significant moment in the team’s history, bringing local talent back to the Wildcats roster. Coach Mark Pope praised Potter’s potential, highlighting his skills and fit for Kentucky’s system.
Lexington, KY – Reece Potter, a 7-foot-1 center, has announced that he will transfer from Miami (Ohio) to the University of Kentucky for the 2025-26 men’s basketball season. This decision is monumental for Wildcats fans, as Potter becomes the first recruited, scholarship player from Lexington in the 21st century.
Potter’s commitment is particularly significant considering that it has been 45 years since a player who grew up in Lexington signed with Kentucky directly out of high school and completed their college career there. The last player from Lexington to go directly to Kentucky was Sean Sutton in the 1987 recruiting class, though Sutton moved to Lexington only two years before his recruitment. Historically, Kentucky’s rosters have not featured any recruited scholarship players from Lexington in the past 36 years.
During his high school career, Potter was recognized as a standout at Lexington Catholic High School. He earned the 2023 Lexington Player of the Year title and was a finalist for the prestigious Mr. Kentucky Basketball award. In his senior season, he was named the 11th Region’s Player of the Year, posting impressive averages of 17.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. His exceptional performance propelled his team to the 43rd District championship and the 11th Region Tournament title game.
At Miami (Ohio), Potter played two seasons, averaging 6.3 points and 3.4 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game, demonstrating shooting proficiency with a 45.4% field goal percentage and a notable 39.8% from three-point range. In the 2024-25 season, Potter played 30 games off the bench, improving his averages to 6.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, with a 36.7% shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
Potter’s signing at Kentucky contributes to the team’s history, as the Wildcats will now have four in-state scholarship players on their roster for the first time since the 2005-06 season. He joins fellow in-state talents including Trent Noah from Harlan County, Jasper Johnson from Woodford County, and Kentucky 2025 Mr. Basketball Malachi Moreno.
With Potter’s addition, Kentucky’s roster has now increased to 13 scholarship players for the upcoming season. Coach Mark Pope highlighted Potter’s potential, describing him as a “lengthy big” who possesses mobility and skill, making him a great fit for the team’s system. Pope also noted the importance of Potter’s decision to represent Kentucky.
The offseason has been productive for Kentucky as they have added several players through the transfer portal. Newcomers include junior guard Denzel Aberdeen, sophomore forward Mouhamed Dioubate, sophomore guard Jaland Lowe, freshman big man Jayden Quaintance, and freshman wing Kam Williams. Kentucky is currently pursuing high school recruit Braydon Hawthorne, a four-star small forward from West Virginia, who had previously committed to West Virginia.
Potter’s commitment marks a new era for local talent at the University of Kentucky, and it has rekindled excitement among fans for the upcoming basketball season. With a diverse group of talented recruits and transfers, including the promising Potter, Kentucky aims to strengthen its position in college basketball. The Wildcats hope to harness this local talent as they seek to reclaim national prominence in the competitive landscape of NCAA basketball.
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Additional Resources
- UK Athletics: Reece Potter Joins Kentucky Men’s Basketball
- Wikipedia: Kentucky Wildcats Men’s Basketball
- Purdue Sports: Purdue to Face Kentucky in Exhibition Game
- Google Search: Kentucky Men’s Basketball
- Kentucky.com: Kentucky Basketball News
- Google Scholar: Kentucky Wildcats
- WKYT: UK Men’s Basketball Team Returns to Lexington
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Basketball
- UCLA Bruins: Men’s Basketball Practices in Lexington
- Google News: Kentucky Basketball News
